Thomas is Digest Player of Week

The Steelers drafted him because they saw him as a safety capable of playing well against the run, and also as a safety they can use in coverage depending upon the offensive personnel and the down-and-distance. On Monday night at FedEx Field, Shamarko Thomas showed he can be up to the task.

On a second-half running play, Thomas knifed into the backfield and hit RB Chris Thompson to force a fumble that Terry Hawthorne recovered. On the subsequent series, on a third-and-8, Thomas was in man-to-man coverage on WR Nick Williams. When Williams caught a short pass on a crossing route, Thomas made the tackle for a 2-yard gain to force a punt. Thomas finished with six tackles and the forced fumble.

Shamarko Thomas is the Steelers Digest Player of the Week.

Also considered were WR Emmanuel Sanders, who made two acrobatic catches for a total of 39 yards in limited playing time; Jonathan Dwyer, who carried 14 times for 68 yards and added another 12 yards on two catches, but he also lost a fumble; LaMarr Woodley recorded a sack on a third-down play to force a punt; Jarvis Jones, who had a couple of tackles and forced a fumble; and Devin Smith, who had an interception with 2:14 left in the fourth quarter.